IN response to rising concerns about escalating school violence particularly among girls, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists, Kelly McFarlane, recommends the creation of a national plan to support students’ psychological well-being.

Speaking with the Express on Saturday, McFarlane warned that while disciplinary action such as expulsion may have its place, it is far from a solution. “The expulsion approach is one starting point but it cannot be the only or the end point,” she said. “What we need is a national framework for school-based mental health that would help both teachers and students and government ministers manage these issues.”

According to McFarlane, such a framework should include consistent support staff, mental health partnerships, and most critically, training, not just for students, but for the teachers navigating these behavioural challenges on a daily basis.